The Test Engineer at Elroy Air will play a crucial role in the development, validation, and certification of Chaparral, our autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft. In this role, you will bridge the gap between design and reality by planning, setting up, and executing rigorous tests on components, sub-systems, and integrated aircraft systems. Whether working on mechanical fixtures, electrical test benches, or environmental chambers, you will ensure our hardware meets performance, reliability, and safety standards. This role requires an adaptable engineer from an electrical, mechanical, or aerospace background who thrives in a hands-on environment and is eager to advance the future of middle-mile logistics.
Responsibilities- Test Planning & Execution: Develop detailed test plans, procedures, and safety hazard analyses for structural, mechanical, environmental, and electrical components.
- Rig & Fixture Design: Design, build, and commission custom test fixtures, automated test equipment, and ground-support equipment using CAD and rapid-prototyping methods.
- Instrumentation & Data Acquisition: Select, install, and calibrate sensors such as strain gauges, thermocouples, accelerometers, and pressure transducers. Configure data acquisition (DAQ) systems to capture critical test data.
- Data Analysis & Diagnostic Troubleshooting: Process raw test data to evaluate system performance against design requirements. Investigate, diagnose, and document root-cause failures when components do not perform as expected.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Design, Systems, and Flight Test engineering teams to translate high-level aircraft requirements into verifiable, concrete physical test criteria.
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Maintain a safe testing environment by adhering to strict laboratory and field safety protocols, ensuring all documentation supports our FAA and UAS certification pathways.
Our Ideal Candidate- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 2+ years of professional experience in a dedicated engineering test environment (e.g., hardware verification, environmental qualification, or physical lab testing).
- Hands-on experience with electric motors, propulsion systems, battery systems, EV systems
- Hands-on experience setting up and operating data acquisition hardware (e.g., National Instruments, Dewesoft) and associated instrumentation.
- Strong mechanical or electrical troubleshooting skills-comfortable parsing engineering schematics, 3D CAD models, or wiring diagrams to diagnose issues.
- Proficiency in data processing and analysis using software tools such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW.
- Excellent communication skills, with a track record of authoring clear, concise, and professional test reports.
Bonus Points For- Experience working within the aerospace, UAV, automotive EV, or robotics industries.
- Familiarity with hardware qualification standards such as DO-160G, military standards (MIL-STD-810), or automotive equivalents.
- Experience with automated testing or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing platforms.
- Experience designing structural load-cells or thermal/environmental testing setups.
What's in it for youCompetitive salary + equity package.
Competitive insurance package including medical/dental/vision/long term disability/life.
401(k) with broad access to low-cost investment funds, paid parental leave, and highly flexible vacation policy.
You'll work with a kind, diverse, and highly skilled team.
You'll help define a new category of aerospace / logistics / robotics, and you'll work on systems that have never been built before.
As an early member of a fast-growing team, you'll help shape and define our company culture and values.
$118,000 - $190,000 a year
We encourage you to apply even if you aren't an exact match for our open role, as many of our team members come from nontraditional backgrounds.
